Foot pedal for actuating a water faucet valve

Abstract

A foot pedal for actuating a water faucet valve can be selectively placed from a rest position to either a pushed position or a locked position by way of depressing the foot pedal at different locations on the foot pedal. In the rest position, the water faucet valve is closed. In the pushed position, the water faucet valve is open as long as the user continues depressing the foot pedal. In the locked position, the water faucet valve is open without the user continuously depressing the foot pedal.

We claim: 
     
       1. A foot pedal mechanism for actuating a water faucet valve, the foot pedal mechanism comprising a long side adapted for depressing and releasing the foot pedal with a user's foot and a short side disposed perpendicularly to the long side, whereas the short side pulls and releases a valve control cable, causing opening and closing the water faucet valve and whereas the foot pedal can be selectively placed from a rest position to either a pushed position or a locked position by way of depressing the foot pedal at, respectively, first or second locations on the foot pedal, such that in the rest position the water faucet valve is closed, in the pushed position the water faucet valve is open as long as the user continues depressing the foot pedal, in the locked position the water faucet valve is open without the user continuously depressing the foot pedal;
 whereas the foot pedal mechanism for actuating a water faucet valve further comprising:
 a top housing comprising a horizontal plate and two rectangular vertical legs disposed on either end of the horizontal plate; 
 a bottom housing comprising a rectangular vertically oriented base plate comprising top and bottom edges and first and second vertical edges, a first wing member disposed on the first vertical edge perpendicularly to the base plate, a second wing member disposed on the second vertical edge perpendicularly to the base plate and forming a catch, whereas the first and second wing members comprise aligned vertically oriented open-ended slots, each slot adapted for receiving a bushing, whereas the legs affixed to the first and second wing members, such that the legs partially cover the open-ended slots, thus forming vertically oriented closed slots; 
 a pedal support plate comprising top and bottom portions, the valve control cable affixed to the top portion, a pivot pin disposed on the bottom portion, the pivot pin inserted into bushings, whereas the short side fixedly attached to the pedal support plate for pivotal movement of the foot pedal about the pivot pin; 
 a spring support disposed on the bottom edge, a spring disposed on the spring support, such that the spring is biasing the foot pedal towards the rest position and permitting a rocking motion of the foot pedal in the horizontal plane about the spring, said rocking motion limited by the travel of the bushings inside the vertically oriented closed slots; 
 a latch disposed on a bottom surface of the long side, the latch aligned and adapted to engage with the catch, whereas the second location is near the latch and the first location is between the middle of the long side and the farthest from the latch. 
 
 
     
     
       2. A foot pedal mechanism for actuating a water faucet valve as in  claim 1  wherein the latch comprising an L-shaped member, whereas a free end of the L-shaped member abutting the catch in the rest and pushed positions and overlapping the catch in the locked position. 
     
     
       3. A foot pedal mechanism for actuating a water faucet valve as in  claim 2  further comprising a valve control cable support disposed on the top edge and adapted for threading the valve control cable therethrough. 
     
     
       4. A foot pedal mechanism for actuating a water faucet valve as in  claim 3  further comprising elongated openings disposed vertically on the legs, the elongated openings adapted for adjusting the relative vertical positions between the top and bottom housings. 
     
     
       5. A foot pedal mechanism for actuating a water faucet valve as in  claim 4  further comprising a top plate adapted for mating with the horizontal plate for installing the foot pedal for actuating a water faucet valve inside a cabinet. 
     
     
       6. A foot pedal mechanism for actuating a water faucet valve as in  claim 5 , further comprising two notches disposed on the bottom portion, the notches receiving the spring.